The Customer is....big boned?

Like most folks, I spend a fair amount of time online.  I'm home ALL DAY. This is how I get big stuff done. I order the kids clothes. I buy furniture. I use all of the cooking websites. I chat with Derrick. We keep Amazon in business...let it not be said that we aren't doing our patriotic duty to stimulate the economy.

And so, since I really want a new dinning room table and chairs I've been looked at some online. I'm not actually going to buy something new - I think I'll just re-stain the one that I have (and love.)  But I've noticed that the art of buying furniture online comes with something both awesome and annoying: customer reviews.  

If I look at new chairs online I might see something like, "These chairs are cute but they are flimsy and broke the first time I sat in one. I'd like to see them have much more structural support." This is good information from some lady in New York who shops at Crate & Barrel six times a year and is a 5Star reviewer. But what's missing is something very important.  How much does she weight?

I think about this all the time and apparently I'm a jerk for wanting a little clarification.  If I weigh less than 500 lbs and you, as a reviewer, weigh more than 500 lbs, well, then we have different needs in chairs. But how am I do know this if the information is lacking in the review?!? 

In a world of information all I want is a little frame of reference, something to qualify all of said info. Everyone likes to blab about themselves all day long online, so lets make some of it useful.

If people want to review a restaurant in the neighborhood I want to know how often they eat out and how often they send food back. And if they've ever worked in the restaurant biz before I trust their judgement. 

If someone complains about a mechanic down the street I want to know how often they change their oil and if they know how to change a flat tire. That should just be a standard qualification before you start complaining about people who know things about cars.

Complaining about a company you've worked for? I want to know how many jobs you've had, how often you're late, and how many days of work you missed while employed there before I believe that the management there is unfair in their personal-leave policy.

Let's start setting some standards here people! A little information goes a long way.

"Making Monsters"

I had the amazing good fortune this year to get to work as a producer on the new Travel Channel series, "Making Monsters." I had the most fun with some of the very best, most talented people.  I'm so excited to see the show and hope you all will like it too!

"Making Monsters" premieres Sunday, October 2nd at 9PM EST on the Travel Channel. Check it out!

More videos and information here @ the Travel Channel.

True dat

Source: sawdustcityllc.com via Amy on Pinterest

And this is cool, too:
"V is for Veronica"

The Good Stuff

I come from a family that loves food. All good things include food. Good food. So it's no surprise that all of Ellie and Parker's favorite things of late are based on the quality of the food supplied at the event. Naturally the winners are 1.) The Wheat Ridge Carnation Parade (hello!?!? buckets of candy!!) and 2.) camping out in the backyard over Labor Day Weekend (S'mores!! And BBQ!! And cinnamon rolls!!)

Thanks Mom for the fun at the Parade. Thanks to Wendy & Cole for the awesome camp out. Thanks to all of our friends for taking such good care of us over the past few weeks. We needed a little love. And when the love comes in the form of Mt. Dew Cake, it's even better.

Moods

Mr. Pope feels like this.....sans binky.

And since Parker looks EXACTLY like Mr. Pope we'll just say this is Mr. Pope's recovery photo.

I feel like this: old & thoughtful.

Parker feels like a smarty-pants. He's telling us everything about everything.

Next week the Binky Fairy comes for his binkies....

Ellie feels like an awesome big sister. She's been reading lots of books.

And we all feel better having the Washington Popes here to take care of us.

Quotes of the Day:

1.) "Parker - you eat so much guacamole, I'm gonna call you 'Parkermole!!'" - Elles Bells

2.) "I wanna watch the Batman Movie!! One more time." - Parkermole

3.) "I just want a little bit of water for the water table...." - Colester

4.) "People should ask me questions. I'm drugged and brutally honest." - Mr. Pope

Energy

I'm one of those people who is both religious and not. I suppose some might see it as non-conformist and others might see it as flat-out lazy - but that's okay with me. I find faith to be an incredibly personal thing. I know lots of people have to go to church and publicly confess their beliefs or discuss them openly with anyone willing to listen - but that's not me.

But, nonetheless, I'm frequently struck by the grace of God. And I feel the energy of our lives coming together in the little moments and the in-betweens. They say you should just keep moving. Waiting for your life to happen to you will leave you empty and lonely and with little to show for your time. So we just keep going. And I just hope our energy is keeping us from having regrets, or getting caught up in self-pity, or falling into anger.

Ellie is getting ready to go back to school in the next few weeks. Four days a week! I can hardly believe it. She's four going on 22. And she's decided full on that she's an awesome big sister. She reads to Parker everyday. Sings him songs and plays with him in a mostly awesome manner. And Parker's Batman obsession is just about the funniest thing our house has ever seen. I've started a photo essay tentatively entitled, "I'm Your Batman." More to come on that...

And Mr. Pope, version 3.0, is just now out of surgery. I'm waiting to go back and see his blue eyes gleam when he first sees me, just like they've done every time he's looked at me for last 10 years.

And we'll just keep going.

Blame it on the Rain?

Something cool that happened #1: I met this guy!

I'm feeling a little gloomy - and I don't typically like to put stuff out into the universe when I'm gloomy. One - I'm usually too honest and people feel the need to set me up for emotional interventions. Two - I'm not into bad karma. It's all about positivity - baby. But I kind of feel like my summer to date has been measured by checks; by mass of amounts of money floating out the door.

Don't get me wrong - they have gone to purchase some cool stuff. Well, maybe warm stuff - a new furnace and hot water heater. And a new roof. And now a refinished and re-designed back porch for my sunset-watching and wine-drinking enjoyment. And Mr. Pope's possible ongoing and possible improving health....

All good things.

Something cool that happened #2: Tiny Town

But the process of getting all the stuff done is always so much more difficult than the process of just enjoying the stuff. Enjoying the summer. That part is easy - we've hit up Water World already this year and had THE MOST fun. We've been to the splash park, visited the dinosaurs at the mall, built sand castles, been to super-hot summer birthday parties, fun trips around the city, and had great dinners with family and old friends and new friends.

And we're trying to figure out how to get new carpet in the house before the holidays - which means I'd also love to get Mr. Parker potty-trained before we invest in pee-free carpet. And we've got two or three trips on the horizon before summer actually closes it's doors for the season. So many plans - they should lift my spirits and give me stuff to work on. I'm nothing without something to work on.

Something cool that happened #3: Parker got a haircut.

And I'm thinking of our friends and family who could probably use some thoughts and prayers - for all of the stuff that life throws at us....the happy and the sad. I'm working on being hopeful and yet, content. And wish this for all of those who need it now, too.

More to come with happier stories and irresistible pictures of my adorable children, sure to turn any frown upside down.